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  Emanator blisterUSPTO Application #: 20060194710Title: Emanator blister Abstract: The use of an emanator blister, comprising a nonwater soluble membrane, for the release of a surfactant. Also an emanator blister, the emanator comprises a non-water soluble membrane which is suitable for the dispense of a surfactant. (end of abstract)
Agent: Norris, Mclaughlin & Marcus - New York, NY, US Inventors: Karl-Ludwig Gibis, Chris Efstatios Housmekerides, Judith Preuschen, Ralf Wiedemann USPTO Applicaton #: 20060194710 - Class: 510439000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Cleaning Compositions For Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, Or Processes Of Preparing The Compositions, Cleaning Compositions Or Processes Of Preparing (e.g., Sodium Bisulfate Component, Etc.), Heterogeneous Arrangement (e.g., Mixture Of Macroscopic Particles Differing In Physical Or Chemical Composition, Etc.; Liquid Component Encapsulated In Or Sorbed On Solid Material, Etc.), Package Or Dosing Unit (e.g., Sachet, Wrapped Cake Soap, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060194710. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to an emanator blister for emanating an active component. The blister finds particular use in a machine dishwasher, for the emanation of detergent components. [0002] The usual means for dosing detergents and other components required in the dishwashing process include the integrated dispenser of the machine. Powder, tablets and liquid detergents are dosed via this means. The integrated dispenser means usually has to be charged every time the machine is run, which is inconvenient for the consumer. [0003] Some dishwasher active components, such as rinse aid, may be dosed using a multi-dose dispenser which can typically release rinse aid for more than 10 wash cycles. These kind of dispensers are also inconvenient as commonly the warning mechanism, which alerts the need to recharge the dispenser, goes un-noticed by the consumer. Furthermore the dosage means need to be refilled which is inconvenient and often messy [0004] Emanators in dishwashers are well known. Where the component is a liquid (such as a fragrance) the emanator may comprise a blister; namely a body containing the liquid to be emanated. Emanation may occur from the blister following piercing or by passage through a permeable blister component. [0005] In permeable blisters, usually the permeable blister component comprises a film/membrane which may be transparent to allow the user to observe the contents of the blister and determine when the blister needs to be changed. The blister contents may be coloured to facilitate this process. [0006] Generally the film/membrane comprises a water insoluble component to avoid being detrimentally affected in use in the dishwasher. Examples of the material used in these films include polymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons (such as ethylene and propylene) which may also be functionalised (for example with halogen such as chlorine). The film/membrane can also be multi-layer and comprise a water-soluble layer which is removed in use and which provides a protective barrier before use. [0007] For example, DE-A-4205975 describes a manufacturing method for a membrane and a membrane composition. The membrane consists of a blend of polyethylene (PE) and 4 to 10 wt % polyethylacrylate (PEEA). The membrane thickness varies between 80 and 140 .mu.m and is coated with a water soluble layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Both layers are glued together by applying a hydrophobic hot-melt adhesive such as PE. These membrane emanators are used in fragrance release devices, e.g. for use in a dishwasher. [0008] GB-A-2 066 665 describes other membrane materials, such as copolymers of ethylene with vinyl acetate. [0009] A disadvantage of blisters having such films/membranes is that, with blisters intended for multi-cycle dosing, the blisters typically exhibit a non-linear release of the contained component. This has the effect that in the first few washes a relatively large amount of material is released and in later washes a smaller amount of material is released. Obviously this effect is undesirable. [0010] This effect is particularly noticeable when the emanator blister is used to release a fragrance: in the first few washes the amount of fragrance released (such as at the end of the wash cycle to overcome any unpleasant odour associated with washing) is overpowering. Conversely, the amount of fragrance released after several wash cycles can reach, in extreme cases, a negligible/non-perceptible level. [0011] It is an object of the present invention to obviate/mitigate the problems outlined above. [0012] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided the use of an emanator blister, comprising a non-water soluble membrane, for the release of a liquid detersive active. [0013] The liquid detersive active is preferably a surfactant, a builder, an acid, an enzyme, a corrosion inhibitor or an admixture thereof. Most preferably the liquid detersive active is a surfactant. [0014] Generally the emanator blister is for use in an automatic dishwasher. Alternatively the emanator may be for use in a washing machine. [0015] We have found that emanator blisters in accordance with the present invention display particularly effective linear release of the blister contents. This has been especially noticeable when used in a multi-dose emanator device for the supply of surfactant to, for example, a dishwasher. In this use it has been observed that the amount of emanator surfactant content released per dishwasher cycle is relatively constant. Namely, the release rate appears to be independent of the content of the blister. This is in contrast to previous emanator devices which display a release rate typified by an exponential release curve. [0016] The emanator is most preferably used in the dispense of a surfactant to perform a cleaning operation in the dishwasher. [0017] In this regard the use of the emanator of the present invention has been shown to have excellent release properties. As described above the emanator has been found to show a linear discharge of emanator contents with a uniform amount of content being released per washing cycle in a multi-cycle emanator. Additionally the emanator has been found to display such release properties with surfactants. Thus the emanator allows the preparation of a device which can dispense dishwasher surfactant (with linear release) into a machine dishwasher over a multi-cycle period. This has obvious consumer benefits including the removal of the need for dosing of surfactant with every dishwasher use and also due to the continuous release of surfactant during the whole washing process (including the pre-wash cycle, the main wash cycle, and the rinse cycle) the overall cleaning performance is enhanced/boosted. [0018] Most preferably the surfactant is non-ionic. The surfactant is preferably low-foaming. [0019] The non-ionic surfactant may be a amide surfactant. Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides suitable for use herein are those having the structural formula RCONRZ wherein: R.sub.1 is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof, preferable C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, more preferably C.sub.1 or C.sub.2 alkyl, most preferably C.sub.1 alkyl (i.e., methyl); and R.sub.2 is a C.sub.5-C.sub.31 hydrocarbyl, preferably straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight-chain C.sub.9-C.sub.17 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight-chain C.sub.11-C.sub.17 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably Z is a glycityl. [0020] The non-ionic surfactant may be a condensate of a alkyl phenol. The polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols are suitable for use herein. In general, the polyethylene oxide condensates are preferred. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration with the alkylene oxide. [0021] The non-ionic surfactant may be an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant. The alkyl alkoxylate condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of alkylene oxide are suitable for use herein. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with from about 2 to about 20 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Especially preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 11 carbon atoms with from about 4 to about 6 moles of alkylene oxide (preferably ethylene oxide) per mole of alcohol. Examples of these especially preferred surfactants include Berol 840 available from AKZO (this has a carbon chain with 8 carbon atoms and 4 ethylene oxide units) and Berol 266 from AKZO (this has a carbon chain with 9 to 11 carbon atoms and 5.5 ethylene oxide units). Both have been found to have an excellent release rate and are low foaming. [0022] The non-ionic surfactant may be ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohol surfactant. The ethoxylated C.sub.6-C.sub.18 fatty alcohols and C.sub.6-C.sub.18 mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols are highly preferred surfactants for use herein, particularly where water soluble. Preferably the ethoxylated fatty alcohols are the C.sub.10-C.sub.18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 50, most preferably these are the C.sub.12-C.sub.18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation from 3 to 40. Preferably the mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols have an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, a degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 30 and a degree of propoxylation of from 1 to 10. [0023] The non-ionic surfactant may be an EO/PO condensates with propylene glycol. The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds preferably has a molecular weight of from about 1500 to about 1800 and exhibits water insolubility. Examples of compounds of this type include certain of the commercially-available Pluronic.TM. surfactants, marketed by BASF. [0024] The non-ionic surfactant may be an EO condensation products with propylene oxide/ethylene diamine adducts. The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, and generally has a molecular weight of from about 2500 to about 3000. Examples of this type of non-ionic surfactant include certain of the commercially available Tetronic.TM. compounds, marketed by BASF. Continue reading... Full patent description for Emanator blister Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Emanator blister patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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